Glenn Maxwell, Aussie Twenty20 dynamite, to lead Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2017

Glenn Maxwell, part of the Australian Test squad currently touring India, will lead Kings XI Punjab in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 Twenty20 tourney.

Kings XI Punjab’s fascination for Australian captains continue. Glenn Maxwell, the Aussie T20 specialist, will lead Kings XI Punjab in Indian Premier League 2017.

Australia's batsman Glenn Maxwell will captain Kings XI Punjab in Indian Premier League 2017. He will be Kings XI Punjab’s fourth Australian skipper (BCCI)

Glenn Maxwell becomes the fourth Australian to captain the Punjab franchise in the IPL twenty20. George Bailey, David Hussey and Adam Gilchrist have captained Kings XI Punjab earlier.

All-rounder Maxwell takes over the captaincy from Indian opener Murali Vijay, who got the job midway through last year when South African David Miller lost the captaincy after a string of poor scores and results.

All our lions getting into the groove before IPL 2017. This time its @gurkeeratmann22 amongst the runs, 4 consecutive 50s in Vijay Hazare! pic.twitter.com/awwFXuSJv1

— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) March 6, 2017

Maxwell’s choice is quite surprising considering the fact he was not in great form last season and is yet to play a Test match in India. Maxwell could play a Test in the third game at Ranchi. It would be a first in more than two years.

Glenn Maxwell will be the third Australia in a leadership role in IPL 2017. While Steve Smith has become the captain of Rising Pune Supergiants ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, David Warner will continue to lead defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Maxwell will be under pressure to perform in a side that has Virender Sehwag as a consultant. Last season, the 28-year-old was left out of the playing XI multiple times due to poor form with the bat. In 2014, however, he was the Player of the Tournament with four half-centuries and an average of 34.5.